I saw some of the end, do not watch the NBA but saw Lakers were getting slaughtered, hammered, embarrassed, so I turned it on.
Even the female broadcaster was often citing LeBron for not running the floor, several time (several times) he stayed in his front court, hands on hips, and watched as his team played D with 4 players on the other end. SHE said it several times, I was surprised she would point out LeBron that way.
Lakers & LeBron are old and stiff and cocky and are gonna be a disaster.
Even the female broadcaster was often citing LeBron for not running the floor, several time (several times) he stayed in his front court, hands on hips, and watched as his team played D with 4 players on the other end. SHE said it several times, I was surprised she would point out LeBron that way.
Lakers & LeBron are old and stiff and cocky and are gonna be a disaster.
I'm not just saying this because they're 0-2, I thought this when the offseason was pretty much over. I think they had a terrible offseason to get rid of Caruso, KCP, Schroder and bring in Russ and old guys that are all 8th men at best. Their 3-12 right now is significantly worse than it was the last 2 years to me, they won't play a truly meaningful game in 5-6 months so maybe they can flip Horton-Tucker or he can emerge or they can get a buyout market guy or two but right now they lack the requisite 3+D guys you want around LeBron/AD.
I get why they got Russ, get a 3rd guy and figure the rest out later but he's just too diminished/poor fit imo. I think it is questionable if he is even better than Schroder for them.
But I'd probably have them closer to +300 to +350 to win the West rather than +190.
And I thought healthy they would win it the last 2 years.
I was disappointed they let go of Caruso, but not as much about KCP and Schroeder. Schroeder was a horrible fit, and KCP too often put up blanks offensively (though it's not like Caruso was a gem offensively either).
Westbrook is still a much better player than Schroeder. I don't think Westbrook is an ideal fit, but I think he can be valuable if used right. I think he could be a tremendous sixth man. Westbrook tends to play better in the second half of the season historically, last season not being an exception. He can still bring value to a contender, if used right. He'll never be the best fit for them, but it's absolutely an upgrade over Schroeder.
I don't know if I agree with the 3-12 analysis. Westbrook is the best third player they've had in LeBron's stretch in LA. I think guys like Nunn and Monk could be pretty good fits. It would have been nice if they kept a Caruso and had someone like Buddy Hield to help with floor spacing I also think that 3-12 last year was just pretty bad.
I think the right price for them winning the West is more around +240 or +250. We have to consider the rest of the conference when judging that obviously; the rest of the West, while I would say is pretty deep with solid teams, is not nearly as strong at the top as it used to be. All the contenders have question marks:
-Suns could be susceptible to a hangover from the previous year, and just genuinely don't have that much upside. They're a good team, but their trip to the Finals was largely due to lucky circumstance. All 3 rounds in the West involved injuries to key players for the opposition. I mean, they got pushed to 6 by the Kawhi-less Clippers for fuck's sake.
-Jazz have proven year after year they don't belong in the championship hunt. Gobert doesn't bring enough offesnively, and relying on Clarkson to be your second offensive option isn't conducive to playoff success (unless your 2018 LeBron James)
-Clippers w/o Kawhi for much of the year
-Nuggets w/o Murray, too reliant on Jokic
-Uncertainty with how Klay will be for the Warriors
In any case judging early season NBA games is pretty stupid.
Im pretty sure the debut of the KD Warriors was a blowout loss to the Spurs at Oracle. Then they went on to be one of the best teams ever. These Lakers obviously won’t be that great, but — point being— these early games mean so little
Im pretty sure the debut of the KD Warriors was a blowout loss to the Spurs at Oracle. Then they went on to be one of the best teams ever. These Lakers obviously won’t be that great, but — point being— these early games mean so little
Just remember, this is what the Lakers look like when they're healthy. Just wait until those old guys start breaking down. That's the physical side. On the mental side, two losses and AD is pushing players on the bench and LeBron is mouthing off to the opponents bench when down 25 not to mention Rondo getting in a fan's face. I think Jason Kidd elicited some level of respect on the bench last year, but there is no one this year they respect on the coaching staff. Should be fund to watch.
FTR, I said they would not come anywhere close to meeting your expectations months ago. Sure, it's two games. But they are 0-2 on their home floor and have not looked good at all. The West is loaded with good teams. They won't get anywhere close to where you predict them to be.
You stick to your Lakers/Nets prediction. I'll stick to my take on this old, injury prone joke of a team. And continue mocking you all season.
They might, they might not. My entire point is that we do not have enough of a look of them this season to judge our predictions.
The biggest takeaway from the two games, in my opinion, is that LeBron looks great and healthy, much different than how he looked in the second of the season last year.
LeBron has been on teams who have looked much worse early in the regular season
I'm torn. I like cheering against Lebron but I like cheering for Westbrook. The guy just lays it all on the line every game. Respect. Even if he's shooting bricks God bless his heart lol.
I don't know. But this is an interesting big 3. I guess Lebron always needs a couple mega stars with him to get over the top. Or he will keep bitching about not enough help.
I can't imagine Air Jordan bitching like that. Don't use Pippen as reason he got over the hump. Jordan made Pippen what he was.
I don't know.
I don't know. But this is an interesting big 3. I guess Lebron always needs a couple mega stars with him to get over the top. Or he will keep bitching about not enough help.
I can't imagine Air Jordan bitching like that. Don't use Pippen as reason he got over the hump. Jordan made Pippen what he was.
I don't know.
Have always respected Westbrook for that reason.
LeBron has never "needed" mega stars though. Love and Bosh were not mega stars, and their roles were diminished. Even Wade was past his peak by a bit after their first year or so together
He also dragged a bag of dicks to the NBA Finals in 2018. That team would've struggled to win 20 games without LeBron that year.
